The story of the works racing Clan Crusader

Mod Sports was the place where any self-respecting British sports car manufacturer brought their gladiators of the showroom to do battle.

The Clan Motor Company was founded by former Lotus race engineers. The road car was enjoying early success, and had achieved historic successes on iconic rallies in 1972.

There was a certain inevitability to British motor racing fans being treated to the spectacle of Clan VS Lotus, on the racetrack.

With a bodyshell so lightweight you could see through it to the trick Formula 2-inspired suspension, and a fibreglass roll cage weighing just five pounds, the works racing Crusader was a championship winning package.

It required a championship winning driver.

In an impressive 15 year career, Johnny Blades had raced everything from an ex. Fittipaldi Formula 2 Lotus to a works Ford Ford GT40. Now, the tailor from Whitley Bay would go out in a blaze of glory.

1973 would be Johnny’s last year of full time racing, and it would be his most successful yet. But beyond race wins and titles, the Blades Clan would come to be defined most by dramatic on-track battles with some of the fastest cars – and drivers – in the sport.

Clan would indeed go wheel-to-wheel with Lotus, and it would be the only chance the company would get to settle old scores.

One season, one shot at glory.

Official merchandise: www.ClassicsDriven.co.uk/BladesClan

More information: www.ClassicsDriven.co.uk/ClanCrusader

Production details:

Filmed on iPhone / edited on iPad
(See film credits for media credits and reading references)

Soundtrack details:

Ross Bugden: "Wasteland" / "Last Dawn" / "Run" / "Ascension"

The Whole Other: "Familiar Things" (YouTube library)

Esther Abrami: "No.4 Piano Journey" (YouTube library)